Для чего на самом деле нужны статины?

Statins: non-lipid benefits and clinical relevance

Statins are prescribed not only to lower blood cholesterol but also for additional important cardiovascular effects that reduce the risk of acute events.

Major non-lipid benefits

• Anti-inflammatory action
  • Reduces inflammation within atherosclerotic plaques, stabilizing them and slowing progression.
• Antithrombotic effect
  • Lowers the tendency for platelets and thrombi to form on inflamed or ruptured plaques.

Pathophysiological chain

1. Inflamed (unstable) atherosclerotic plaques attract platelets.
2. If an inflamed plaque ruptures, a blood clot (thrombus) forms rapidly at the site.
3. Small-vessel ruptures may cause small focal infarctions; rupture of a large coronary artery (for example, the left main) can cause a catastrophic myocardial infarction.

Clinical implication

Lowering cholesterol alone is insufficient; controlling plaque inflammation and preventing thrombosis are additional, crucial goals in preventing acute coronary events.

Researchers / sources

• None mentioned.